Freshwater mussel (Lamelliedens marginalis) to reduce the lead (Pb) bioaccumulation in aquaculture of stinging catfish, Heteropneustes fossilis

ABSTRACT The freshwater mussel (Lamellidens marginalis) was employed with a 28-day aquarium rearing of stinging catfish (Heteropneustes fossilis) exposed to a sublethal concentration (0.75 mg/l) of Pb(NO3)2 to evaluate the growth, Pb bioaccumulation, and associated liver histopathology in fish. Three treatments (T2, T3, and T4) and a control (T1) were assigned with 20 fish and 5, 20, 40, and 0 numbers of mussel each. The specific growth rate, percentage of weight, and length gain showed a larger increase of Pb in T3 and T4 than in the control and T2. After 28 days, the highest amount of muscular and hepatic Pb was recorded as 2.43 ± 0.01 mg/L and 7.79 ± 0.8 mg/L respectively in the control group (T1); the lowest amount was recorded in T4 as 0.46 ± 0.07 mg/L and 4.41 ± 0.58 mg/L respectively. Liver histopathology exhibited vacuolization, raptured hepatocytes, blood congestion, necrosis, and fat droplets accumulation in different intensities. The control group manifested severe pathology; the T4 treatment exhibited comparatively low signs.